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Israeli and Colombian investigators have been at the scene of the crash. A similar crash occurred in 2009, with current speculation surrounding a possible role of an engine failure in both of the two crashes. The Kfir utilizes a single General Electric J79 engine, the same engine model used in the F-4 Phantom. Although arguably more reliable than the Atar engines used in the French Mirage III and Mirage 5 (from which the Kfir was developed), the J79 does not have the same reliability rates as the latest US F100 and F110 engines flying today.

Israel and Colombia have displayed warm relations over the years, and last week the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense visited Colombia to meet with the country’s top security officials

Danielle Cohen

On Friday (Oct. 22) the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Udi Shani returned to Israel after his first visit of this kind to Bogota. He was sent to Columbia by Minister of Defense Ehud Barak. During his visit, Maj. Gen. Shani met with the Columbia President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, along with the Colombian Minister of Defense, the top echelons of the Ministry of Defense, and top Colombian military officials including the Chief of Staff, the Air Force Commander and the Naval Commander.

Over the years, Colombia has become one of Israel’s closest friends in the world in general, and in South America in particular. According to top security officials, “Shani’s visit to Colombia was intended to deepen the strategic, security, and industrial relationship between the countries and their security systems, while emphasizing Defense Ministry policies related to security export. The foundations for continued successful cooperation between the countries were laid during this visit.”

The security officials discussed policy on security export and the publicity of this year’s wild competition between Israeli security industries to supply Colombia with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Ultimately no Israeli company won the bid. Because of this incident and a number of others, the Ministry of Defense decided to strengthen its supervision over security exports, with the goal of enabling a competitive and free market on one hand, while preventing wild competition between the industries which could harm Israel’s political, security and economic interests.

Colombia is considered the South American country most similar in character to Israel, and over the years warm and friendly relations between the two nations have been built. This is in part due to similar challenges that Colombia faces as a democratic country dealing with an internal armed conflict against FARC and other extremist threats.

In addition, the Defense Ministry is in talks with a number of countries, including Colombia, over the possible sale of the Merkava, the IDF’s main battle tank, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Israel has never sold the Merkava, the largest military platform it manufactures independently.

The decision to open the Merkava for export was made by Defense Ministry directorgeneral Udi Shani as part of an effort to increase Israeli defense sales to around $10 billion annually.

A festive toast was held at IAI's facilities next to Ben Gurion International Airport, in the presence of the Colombian ambassador to Israel, Mr. Isaac Gilinsky, pilots from the Colombian Air Force, IAI's president and CEO, Mr. Itzhak Nissan, Bedek Aviation Group's general manager, Mr. Eli Hattem and project managers from IAI. . . .

The Colombian ambassador said: "Receiving the tanker is a great gift to the Colombian Air Force. It is a project of national significance and is of crucial importance to Colombia's security and defense. The tanker will play a major role in enhancing our Air Force's capabilities. We look forward to enjoying its performance in the field."

Lt. Gen. Carlos Silva of the CAF said:" We're so pleased to be receiving the converted B767. It is an impressive platform with outstanding capabilities. The joint IAI/CAF effort has succeeded and borne fruit. We are proud to be working with IAI's pilots and engineers who see us as friends, rather than customers, it's a great pleasure."